Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Segments

 

The Company operates in only one segment. Management uses cash flow as the primary measure to manage its business and does not segment its business for internal reporting or decision-making.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to significant risk on its cash.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company’s future results of operations involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could affect the Company’s future operating results and cause actual results to vary materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, rapid technological change, regulatory approvals, competition from current treatments and therapies and larger companies, protection of proprietary technology, strategic relationships and dependence on key individuals.

 

Products developed by the Company will require clearances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) and other international regulatory agencies prior to commercial sales in their respective markets. The Company’s products may not receive the necessary clearances and if they are denied clearance, clearance is delayed or the Company is unable to maintain clearance the Company’s business could be materially adversely impacted.

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity from the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash in a readily available checking account.

 

    December 31, 2017     December 31, 2016  
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 748     $ 3,605  
Restricted cash     29       35  
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows   $ 777     $ 3,640  

 

Restricted cash represents amounts pledged as collateral for financing arrangements with Silicon Valley Bank. These financing arrangements are currently limited to the issuance of business credit cards. The restriction will end upon the conclusion of financing arrangement.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment, which consists of lab equipment, computer equipment, and office equipment, are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three to five years) using the straight-line method.

 

Goodwill and In-Process Research and Development

 

Goodwill and an intangible asset for in-process research and development were recorded in connection with the acquisition of RFS Pharma in November 2014. In-process research and development represent a series of awarded patents, filed patent applications and an in-process research program acquired in the acquisition of RFS Pharma that are integral to the development of the Company’s planned future products. In-process research and development represent an indefinite-lived intangible asset. As a result, both goodwill and in-process research and development are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually at the reporting unit level on November 30 or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. Factors the Company considers important that could trigger an interim review for impairment include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  Significant changes in the manner of its use of acquired assets or the strategy for its overall business;
     
  Significant negative industry or economic trends;
     
  Significant decline in the Company’s stock price for a sustained period;
     
  Significant decline in market capitalization relative to net book value;
     
  Limited funding that could further delay development efforts;
     
  Safety or efficacy issues that surface during development efforts; and
     
  Clinical outcomes for drug candidates do not lead to regulatory approval.

 

Goodwill and in-process research and development are evaluated for impairment first by a qualitative assessment to determine the likelihood of impairment. If it is determined that impairment is more likely than not, the Company will then proceed to the two step impairment test. For goodwill, the first step is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying amount of the reporting unit and for in-process research and development to compare the fair value of the in-process research and development asset to its carrying amount (the “First Step”). If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, a second step must be followed to calculate impairment (the “Second Step”). Otherwise, if the fair value exceeds the carrying amount, the goodwill or indefinite-lived research and development asset is not considered to be impaired as of the measurement date. In its review of the carrying value of the goodwill for its single reporting unit and its in-process research and development, the Company determines fair values of its goodwill using the market approach, and its in-process research and development asset using the income approach. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company determined that a quantitative assessment of impairment of goodwill and in-process research and development was necessary and performed its annual impairment tests as of November 30 of each year.

 

In performing the impairment test, the Company considered, among other factors, the Company’s intention for future use of acquired assets, analyses of historical financial performance and estimates of future performance of Cocrystal Pharma’s product candidates. The fair values of intangible assets were calculated primarily using a discounted cash flow analysis of future revenues to be generated from the eventual sale of potential products to be developed under the programs by geographic region, expected development costs and exit values under a number of different scenarios. Company management estimated the probabilities of occurrence of each scenario and prepared forecast balance sheets and income statements for the combined company. The rates utilized to discount net cash flows to their present values were based on a discount rate of 18.6%. Other assumptions used to develop our estimated cash flows include prices charged by competitors for similar products, the expected price of our product candidates if and when they begin generating revenues, the probabilities of our product candidates obtaining regulatory approvals through various phases of development, and the market size of potential candidates for the products we are developing.

 

Upon completion of the impairment evaluation, we have determined that in-process research and development assets related to our Hepatitis C programs were impaired in 2015 and 2016. During the fourth quarter of 2015, we determined the carrying value of our Hepatitis C in-process research and development was impaired by $38.7 million. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we determined the carrying value of our Hepatitis C in-process research and development was impaired by an additional $92.4 million. For 2017, we determined there was no impairment based on our impairment test performed as of November 30, 2017. These impairments recorded in 2016 and 2015 were the result of increased competition within the marketplace that put downward pressure on revenue projections and partially the result of further data defining the scientific and commercial potential of Company HCV compounds during those years. We have included these impairment charges in Research and Development expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company regularly reviews the carrying value and estimated lives of all of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, to determine whether indicators of impairment may exist which warrant adjustments to carrying values or estimated useful lives. The determinants used for this evaluation include management’s estimate of the asset’s ability to generate positive income from operations and positive cash flow in future periods as well as the strategic significance of the assets to the Company’s business objective. Should an impairment exist, the impairment loss would be measured based on the excess of the carrying amount over the asset’s fair value.

 

Mortgage Note Receivable

 

The Company records its mortgage note receivable at the amount advanced to the borrower, which includes the stated principal amount and certain loan origination and commitment fees that are recognized over the term of the mortgage note. Interest income is accrued as earned over the term of the mortgage note. The Company evaluates the collectability of both interest and principal of the note to determine whether it is impaired. The note is considered to be impaired if, based on current information and events, the Company determines that it is probable that it would be unable to collect all amounts due according to the existing contractual terms. Upon determination that the note is impaired, the amount of loss is calculated by comparing the recorded investment to the value determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at the note’s effective interest rate or to the fair value of the Company’s interest in the underlying collateral, less the cost to sell.

 

Grant Revenue and Accounts Receivable

 

Research and development grants are recorded as revenue when there is reasonable assurance that the Company has complied with all conditions necessary to achieve the grants, collectability is reasonably assured, and as the expenditures are incurred. Accounts receivable represents amounts due under research and development grants that have not yet been received.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

All research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future taxable income. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized based on the weight of available evidence, including expected future earnings. The Company recognizes an uncertain tax position in its financial statements when it concludes that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based solely on its technical merits. Only after a tax position passes the first step of recognition will measurement be required. Under the measurement step, the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon effective settlement. This is determined on a cumulative probability basis. The full impact of any change in recognition or measurement is reflected in the period in which such change occurs. The Company elects to accrue any interest or penalties related to income taxes as part of its income tax expense.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company recognizes compensation expense using a fair-value-based method for costs related to stock-based payments, including stock options. The fair value of options awarded to employees is measured on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis.

 

Use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions including expected volatility, expected term, and a risk-free interest rate. The Company estimates volatility using a blend of its own historical stock price volatility as well as that of market comparable entities since the Company’s common stock has limited trading history and limited observable volatility of its own. The expected term of the options is estimated by using the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Bulletin No. 107’s Simplified Method for Estimate Expected Term. The risk-free interest rate is estimated using comparable published federal funds rates.

 

Convertible Notes Payable

 

The Company accounts for convertible notes payable (when it has determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments) in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. Accordingly, the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes payable for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. Debt discounts under these arrangements are amortized over the term of the related debt to their earliest date of redemption. The Company determined that the embedded conversion options in its issued convertible notes payable do not meet the definition of a derivative liability.

  

Common Stock Purchase Warrants and Other Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We classify as equity any contracts that require physical settlement or net-share settlement or provide us a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in our own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement) provided that such contracts are indexed to our own stock as defined in ASC 815-40, Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity. We classify as assets or liabilities any contracts that require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside our control) or give the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). We assess classification of our common stock purchase warrants and other freestanding derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between assets and liabilities is required.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 impacts any entity that enters into a lease with some specified scope exceptions. This new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The guidance updates and supersedes Topic 840, Leases. For public entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods with those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company has not implemented this guidance as of December 31, 2017. However, based upon on the Company’s current operating lease arrangements, the Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), which addresses the classification of eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We have not yet adopted this guidance and are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), which simplifies how an entity is required to test for goodwill impairment. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted after January 1, 2017. We have not yet adopted this guidance and are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements.